HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The Madison County school board this week began advertising its vacant superintendent's post and applicants have until after the New Year to apply.

The board is seeking to replace Dr. Terry Davis, who retired Dec. 1 after five years as superintendent. The person chosen will complete Davis' elected four-year term, which will expire in December 2014.

Candidates can apply until Jan. 5 through the Alabama Association of School Boards, which the board is using to aid in the superintendent search. A brochure posted on the association's website lists the salary at $124,845, with up to $24,000 in annual incentive pay and a $750 monthly car allowance.

Kenny Johnson, president of the school board, said Thursday that the salary is firm.

"We are under the current elected superintendents' resolution," Johnson said. "It spells out exactly what the salary is, incentives and travel allowance. We are bound to that until the term ends."

The salary resolution, as established in 2010, allows up to $12,000 in incentive pay based on the number of schools that make Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, and the overall AYP score of the school system.

A second incentive, based on the superintendent's evaluation by the board, is capped at $8,000, and the superintendent can earn up to $4,000 based on the completion of the fiscal year's capital plans in compliance with the budgeted costs and completion dates.

The required qualifications listed in the job posting include an Alabama certificate in administration and supervision, a minimum of five years' experience in public school work, three years' successful experience as a teacher, principal or other education administrator and a degree from a recognized four-year college or university.

"Desired traits" include, among others, a belief that all children can learn, knowledge and experience in managing budgets and finances and a commitment to long-range planning.

Johnson said a consultant from the state association, Kendy Behrends, will use a screening committee made up of retired and current superintendents to whittle the applicant pool down to about eight or nine candidates. Behrends is a retired superintendent from Florence City Schools.

The final list of applicants will be no more than five, Johnson said.

More information on the position can be found at the AlabamaSchoolBoards.org website.

Superintendent searches have been prevalent in North Alabama in recent months. Huntsville's superintendent, Dr. Casey Wardynski, took that job in that district in July following a five-month search to replace the ousted Dr. Ann Roy Moore.

Decatur City Schools is also choosing a new superintendent. The current superintendent, Dr. Sam Houston, last month announced his retirement, which will be effective June 30, 2012.

The Decatur board announced on its website Tuesday that it has chosen search firm BWP and Associates to help it fill the slot. BWP is the same firm that aided Huntsville's school board in bringing Wardynski to the Rocket City.

Like Davis, former Limestone County Superintendent Barry Carroll also retired Dec. 1 because of changes to the state's Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan that increased employees' insurance premiums.

Carroll, who interviewed for Huntsville superintendent in May, has taken a private sector job in Georgia. Zebbra Green, the district's director of elementary curriculum, was named interim superintendent until a permanent replacement is chosen.